40% of Australians Drive While Talking on Their Mobile Phone

A study by a Queensland University of Technology researcher has found that 40 percent of Australians use their phone at least once a day while driving. The study by Shari Walsh, from QUT's School of Psychology and Counselling, found that despite drivers knowing the dangers of using their mobiles at the wheel, they continued to talk on their phone.

"The most frequently reported behaviour was answering the phone, with 46 per cent confessing to doing this," she said. "Thirty-six per cent of people say they often dial and drive, one in three people admit to reading text messages, and 18 per cent say they frequently text messaged."

Ms Walsh, whose research looked at the personal and social factors motivating people to use their mobile while driving, said despite legislation banning the use of hand-held mobile phones in cars many Australians flouted the road rules.

She said the one saving grace was that drivers were more likely to pick up their phone while stopped at lights or stuck in traffic, compared to driving in complex situations like changing lanes or driving through a school zone. "Drivers are more likely to use their mobile phone when they are stationary rather than when they are driving at 100km/h."

"Drivers are aware driving and using their mobile is dangerous because they admit it is a distraction.

"They acknowledge it reduces their concentration which in turn increases the risk of crashing and causing injury, but this does not stop them."

Ms Walsh said the study also found the risk of being fined for using a hand-held mobile while driving was not a deterrent.

"People said they considered the risk of being caught to be 'low', and although they acknowledged using a mobile phone presented a safety risk, they did not perceive this risk as 'high'.

"The risk of crashing also did not deter drivers from using their mobile phone for any purpose in any situation."

Ms Walsh said drivers believed using their mobile phone at the wheel was an effective use of time, allowed them to do business and was convenient.

Ms Walsh said a driver's intention to use a mobile phone while driving increased if they possessed "addictive" tendencies towards mobile phone use, and also drivers under 25 were more likely to use their mobile phone while driving on a daily basis.

She said by understanding what influenced people to use their phone while driving and under what conditions people were more or less likely to use their phone, more effective strategies could be developed to curb this dangerous behaviour.

The study was funded by the Federal Government's Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Posted to the site on 7th January 2008